Written Answers Wednesday 30 April 2008

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to legislate to ban irresponsible promotions of alcohol.

Kenny MacAskill: The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 will ban irresponsible promotions in on-sales premises when it comes into force on 1 September 2009. The Scottish Government will shortly be consulting on regulations to extend these provisions to off-sales premises – this will form part of a wider consultation on the government’s long-term alcohol strategy.

Autism

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-303 and S3W-8837 by Tom McCabe on 4 June 2003 and by Shona Robison on 5 February 2008 respectively, what progress has been made since June 2003 in compiling a Scotland-wide database of diagnoses of autistic spectrum disorder at NHS board or local authority level.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has recently published guidance for commissioners of services for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The guidance states that local authorities and health boards should work in partnership to identify and keep a record of people with ASD in their area.

  Information about the number of children with ASD in education is available from the pupil census, Pupils in Scotland, and should be used to plan future demand on services. Pupils in Scotland, 2007 is on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/02/25145216/0.

Bute House

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change the fabric of Bute House and what the estimated cost of that work is expected to be.

John Swinney: No decisions have been made to change the fabric of Bute House. However, the Scottish Government acknowledge that a long term strategy is required to maintain and conserve the house. Decisions on this will be made in due course.

Charities

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the funding allocation to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator was in 2007-08 and what it will be in 2008-09.

Fergus Ewing: The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has been allocated operating expenditure of £3.6 million for the year 2007-08 and £3.6 million for the year 2008-09. The OSCR, as an independent non-ministerial department, is responsible for determining the level of funding it requires to enable it to carry out its core functions.

Child Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the recommended minimum health visitor support is for early years childcare to the age of five.

Shona Robison: Health for All Children Guidance (Hall 4, 2005) recommends that every child and parent should have access to a universal core programme of preventative pre-school care. The Scottish universal core programme of contacts includes contact with a health professional within the first 24 hours of life, 10 and 28 days, at six to eight weeks, at two, three and four months, at 12 and 13 months and at three to five years.

  The Scottish child health programme includes routine checks to detect any health problems and to ensure that children get any care or treatment they need as soon as possible, including immunisations. Up until school entry, information and advice on a range of health promotion topics should be provided such as weaning, nutrition, child development, safety and dental health. Most of the core programme is undertaken by health visitors/public health nurses, however some of the contacts listed above are undertaken by midwives.

Class Sizes

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on recommendations made by the Class Sizes, Staffing and Resources Working Group about the need for future research into class sizes, including a short term study measuring the impact of the August 2007 reductions in S1 and S2 English and maths class sizes and a longer term monitoring exercise of the P1 class size reductions.

Maureen Watt: We have no current plans to implement the research recommendations of the Class Sizes and Resources Working Group established by the last government to assess their policies.

Class Sizes

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice was given to ministers regarding its ability to deliver on its pledge to cut class sizes to 18 for all P1 to P3 schoolchildren.

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received advice from officials that its pledge to cut class sizes to 18 for all P1 to P3 schoolchildren is not deliverable within Session 3 of the Parliament.

Fiona Hyslop: Advice from officials to ministers is confidential. On 14 November 2007 we signed an historic concordat with local government under which local government undertakes to make year-on-year progress on reducing primary 1 to primary 3 classes to a maximum of 18. The concordat recognises that the rate of progress will vary between local authorities.

Class Sizes

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how long it will take to deliver on its pledge to cut class sizes to 18 for all P1 to P3 schoolchildren.

Maureen Watt: We have signed an historic concordat with local government under which local government undertakes to make year-on-year progress on reducing primary 1 to primary 3 classes to a maximum of 18. The concordat recognises that the rate of progress will vary between local authorities.

Class Sizes

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it believes that P1 to P3 class sizes will be reduced to 18 in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it believes that P1 to P3 class sizes will be reduced to 18 in South Ayrshire.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it believes that P1 to P3 class sizes will be reduced to 18 in East Ayrshire.

Fiona Hyslop: We have signed an historic concordat with local government under which local government undertakes to make year-on-year progress on reducing primary 1 to primary 3 classes to a maximum of 18. The concordat recognises that the rate of progress will vary between local authorities.

Class Sizes

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been given to South Ayrshire Council to reduce P1 to P3 class sizes to 18 in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley.

Fiona Hyslop: We have signed an historic concordat with local government that provides record levels of funding of £34.9 billion over the spending review period. This represents an increase of 13.1%. In return, local government has agreed to reduce class sizes in primary 1 to primary 3 as quickly as possible.

Concessionary Travel

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the eligibility criteria for free bus travel should be extended to include those who receive the lower rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance and, if so, when such a change might be introduced and what steps are being taken to reduce the red tape that prevents some people from proving their eligibility for free travel.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People will be the subject of a review during 2008. No changes will be made to the current eligibility criteria in advance of the review which is due to report by the end of the year.

  Steps have been taken to make the application process easier for people who have never held a driving licence or have had their licence revoked as a result of epilepsy.

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to the operation of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 in Scotland and whether it believes that any further legislation is needed.

Kenny MacAskill: The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 has been in force since 6 April 2008. It is therefore much too early to comment on its operation in Scotland, or on the need for further legislation.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA regarding the alternative training route for teachers working wholly or mainly with deaf pupils which was introduced in February 2007.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how ministers will monitor the impact on the teachers of the deaf workforce of the alternative training route for teachers working wholly or mainly with deaf pupils, introduced in February 2007.

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines an "appropriate qualification" for teachers working wholly or mainly with deaf pupils as referred to in the Requirements for Teachers (Scotland) Regulations 2005.

Adam Ingram: In 2007 the Scottish Executive published guidance as to what shall constitute appropriate qualifications for teachers of children and young persons who have a hearing impairment, or visual impairment, or both hearing and visual impairment. The qualification is defined in terms of specific competences as detailed in the guidance. These comprise the specialist knowledge, understanding and skills required of teachers to enable them to teach pupils who are hearing impaired, visually impaired or both hearing and visually impaired.

  This guidance does not define the route to be taken in obtaining this appropriate qualification but acknowledges that there is a range of pathways, for example, through completion of a post-graduate diploma, accredited prior learning and/or local authority based training. It is for individual local authorities, as employers, to ensure that all teachers employed wholly or mainly to teach pupils who are hearing impaired, visually impaired or both hearing and visually impaired hold an appropriate qualification.

  The guidance was drawn up in consultation with local authorities, representatives of the Association of Directors of Education Scotland and other key stakeholders.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how ministers will monitor the impact on the attainment of deaf pupils of the alternative training route for teachers working wholly or mainly with deaf pupils, introduced in February 2007.

Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11956 on 30 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Information on the attainment of deaf pupils is available from the annual pupil census which can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/02/25145216/4.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans ministers have to encourage more teaching professionals to train as professional teachers of the deaf.

Adam Ingram: We have no specific plans in this respect. The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring that teachers have access to relevant and high-quality continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities in all areas of education.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers consider British Sign Language level 1 to be a suitable communication standard for teachers working wholly or mainly with deaf children for the purposes of communicating the entire school curriculum.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers intend to ensure that teachers working wholly or mainly with deaf pupils who use British Sign Language (BSL) as their main method of communication are qualified to BSL level 3 as a minimum standard.

Adam Ingram: The Requirements for Teachers (Scotland) Regulations 2005 which came into force on 30 September 2005 state that every education authority shall employ adequate numbers of teachers in the schools under their management, with the appropriate professional skills and knowledge necessary to enable those teachers to undertake the teaching duties allocated to them.

  It is for local authorities to ensure that teachers working with learners who use British Sign Language become qualified at an appropriate level in the language.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers intend to introduce teaching practice with deaf pupils to the minimum list of competencies that trainee teachers of the deaf have to meet under the new alternative training route which was introduced in February 2007.

Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11956 on 30 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  The specific competences outlined in the guidance comprise the specialised knowledge, understanding and skills required of teachers to enable them to teach pupils who have hearing impairment, visual impairment or both hearing and visual impairment. It is expected that these competences would be acquired through teaching practice, as well as through other means.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the number of fully qualified teachers of the deaf currently working in schools.

Adam Ingram: It is for local authorities to ensure that they have the appropriate number of fully qualified teachers of the deaf currently working in schools.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on ensuring that teachers working wholly or mainly with deaf pupils are appropriately qualified.

Adam Ingram: It is essential that all pupils in Scotland’s schools are taught by appropriately qualified teachers.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired People

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider a wholesale review of all teachers working wholly or mainly with deaf pupils, focusing on the age profile and qualifications obtained.

Adam Ingram: At present, the Scottish Government has no plans to conduct a wholesale review of all teachers working wholly or mainly with deaf pupils.

First Minister

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what engagements the First Minister has on Wednesday 23 April 2008.

Nicola Sturgeon: On 23 April, the First Minister was in Brussels to attend the European Seafood Exposition and help promote Scottish seafood. He also used the opportunity of being in Brussels to host a seminar on the National Conversation and hold meetings with Commissioner Borg; the Minister-President of the Flemish Government, and the UK Permanent Representative to the EU.

First Minister

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that MEPs will be in Strasbourg on 23 April 2008 when the First Minister plans to hold a National Conversation in Brussels and what action will be taken to avoid such events coinciding in future.

Nicola Sturgeon: The First Minister was in Brussels as part of a long standing arrangement to visit the European Seafood Exposition. The National Conversation event was scheduled around this commitment, and was attended by a wide range of individuals and organisations.

Fisheries

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8404 by Jim Mather on 28 January 2008, when the study it is undertaking into the economic value of sea angling will report.

Richard Lochhead: The study into the economic impact of recreational sea angling in Scotland is being undertaken by Glasgow Caledonian University and is scheduled to report by the end of November this year.

General Practitioners

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to support dispensary services provided by GP practices.

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to enhance dispensary services provided by GP practices in rural Scotland.

Shona Robison: Dispensing practices in Scotland provide dispensing for some or all of their patients only where a community pharmacy service is unavailable. This service is subject to a special funding regime. We are currently reviewing the long standing contractual arrangements for this service, which were not addressed when the current national GP contract was introduced in 2004. We will discuss in due course with the Scottish General Practitioners Committee how these arrangements should be developed.

HM Revenue and Customs

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to the UK Government regarding the possibility of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) proposing the closure of a number of offices in Scotland outwith Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.

John Swinney: Under current constitutional arrangements the organisation of HMRC services in Scotland is a matter for that body. However the Scottish Government has an interest in the maintenance of an appropriate level of service across Scotland. We are aware of the decisions that have been made to reduce the number of buildings HMRC occupy in the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas and that a programme of reviews is on-going in respect of other offices. We believe HMRC must ensure an adequate level of convenient face to face service for Scottish taxpayers.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the minimum recommended time is for provision of health visitor support and advice for pregnant women.

Shona Robison: There is no minimum recommended time for the provision of health visitor support to pregnant women. Midwives are the main providers of care to women throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. Health visitors work closely with their midwifery colleagues to augment care where this is indicated.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to increase health visiting to all families.

Shona Robison: The way community nursing is organised in Scotland has undergone a major review over the past two years. The aim has been to modernise how health care is delivered to people in their own homes and communities. The recommendations from Visible, Accessible and Integrated Care , the Review of Nursing in the Community, are currently being piloted in four health boards across Scotland. The new community health nurse teams will provide care that is currently delivered by District Nurses, Health Visitors, School Nurses and Family Health Nurses by maximising the range of skills available. By adopting a more generic, team based approach, services will be more flexible and responsive to the needs of local communities. More opportunities will also exist for other health care professionals and others such as local authorities to participate in the delivery of care and services.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the population count is for each NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Details are as follows:

  Scottish Population Estimates by Health Board, 30 June 2006

  

 Ayrshire and Arran
 366,450


 Borders
 110,247


 Dumfries and Galloway
 148,030


 Fife
 358,858


 Forth Valley
 286,053


 Grampian
 529,889


 Greater Glasgow
 1,191,584


 Highland
 306,701


 Lanarkshire
 558,139


 Lothian
 801,310


 Orkney
 19,770


 Shetland
 21,880


 Tayside
 391,639


 Western Isles
 26,350


 Scotland
 5,116,900



  Source: GRO health board and council area mid-year population estimates 2006:

  www.gro-scotland.gov.uk.

Health

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in proposals anent GP opening hours, consideration has been given to addressing the issue of patients who do not attend or cancel booked appointments.

Shona Robison: The "core hours" arrangements for patients missing appointments will apply in extended hours.

  Within the regulatory framework, it is for the practice to determine appropriate action for patients missing appointments. This may be a warning or for persistent missing of appointments, removal from the patient list of the practice.

Higher Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what links it has with universities in the United States of America.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government works with a number of universities in the United States of America on events and visits, mostly recently in relation to Scotland Week. The majority of their links with Scotland are formed through formal and informal relationships with our higher education institutions.

Homecoming Scotland

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-09363 by Jim Mather on 8 February 2008, which local authorities have now allocated funding to Homecoming Scotland and how much each authority has allocated.

Jim Mather: EventScotland is aware that a number of local authorities are considering providing funding in support of projects to celebrate Homecoming Scotland. Organisers of some of these projects have also submitted bids for funding from EventScotland to be part of the official homecoming programme. Details on the allocation of homecoming funding will be available in the week commencing 26 May when it is planned that the full programme will be launched. However, it is for local authorities to decide what funding is allocated by them to different projects, and no information on this is held centrally.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many householders applied to join the Mortgage to Rent scheme in 2006-07.

Stewart Maxwell: Three hundred and ninety-four households applied to join the Mortgage to Rent scheme in 2006-07.

Housing

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new council houses will be built in Edinburgh in each of the next 10 years as a result of the £25 million package announced on 19 April 2008.

Stewart Maxwell: Decisions on the allocation of the £25 million over the next three years to incentivise new council house building will be reached following discussions with our partners in local government.

Housing

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average rent rise will be for housing association tenants in Edinburgh as a result of reductions in support for housing associations.

Stewart Maxwell: Recent proposals for change to the standard assumptions and allowances used when calculating subsidy reflect the actual performance reported by associations, which includes only those rent increases that housing associations themselves are projecting. Rent levels are a matter for individual associations to agree in consultation with their tenants.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes for sale will be built in East Ayrshire in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes for sale will be built in South Ayrshire in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

Stewart Maxwell: Announcement of the 2008-09 affordable housing investment programme will be made shortly. Plans for 2009-10 and 2010-11 will be announced nearer the time.

Lifelong Learning

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9640 by Jim Mather on 28 February 2008, how many people participated in JobRotation in Ayrshire in each of the last five years.

Jim Mather: The following table gives the requested information which has been provided by Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) Scotland, who manage the JobRotation project across Ayrshire.

  

 Project Name
 Total Number of Unemployed Participants (JRTs)
 Total Number of Employed Participants (CBs)
 Total Number of Participants


 Ayrshire JobRotation
 34
 134
 168


 East Ayrshire JobRotation (2003)
 31
 154
 185


 East Ayrshire JobRotation (2004)
 37
 148
 185


 East Ayrshire JobRotation (2005)
 40
 244
 284


 East Ayrshire JobRotation (2006-07)
 100
 404
 504


 Girvan JobRotation (2003-04)
 9
 32
 41


 Girvan JobRotation (2005)
 14
 58
 72


 Girvan JobRotation (2006-07)
 22
 174
 196


 ANNA JobRotation (2003-04)
 17
 116
 133


 North Ayrshire JobRotation (2004-2005)
 39
 195
 234


 North Ayrshire JobRotation (2006-07)
 93
 528
 621


 Prestwick Airport JobRotation
 30
 148
 178


 WEA NHS JobRotation
 7
 70
 77


 North Ayrshire Social Work JobRotation
 30
 81
 111

Lifelong Learning

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9640 by Jim Mather on 28 February 2008, in which sectors people participated in JobRotation in Ayrshire in each of the last five years.

Jim Mather: The following table gives the requested information which has been provided by Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) Scotland, who manage the JobRotation project across Ayrshire.

  

 Project Name
 Lead Applicant
 Timescale
 Industry Sectors Participating


 Ayrshire JobRotation
 WEA Scotland
 2000-2002
CareHospitalityAdministrationOther Services


 East Ayrshire JobRotation (2003)
 East Ayrshire Council
 January 2003 – March 2004
Financial / Health(Care- plus Child Care) / Hospitality/ Construction, Landscape Agriculture/Pharmaceutical Retail / Manufacturing


 East Ayrshire JobRotation (2004)
 East Ayrshire Council
 January 2004 – December 2004
 Health (Care/Childcare)/Hospitality/ Manufacturing/ Service/ Financial


 East Ayrshire JobRotation (2005)
 East Ayrshire Council
 January 2005-December 2005
 Health (Care/ Vet nary) /Retail /Transport/ Manufacturing/ Real Estate/ Construction/ Hospitality Other Service


 East Ayrshire JobRotation (2006-07)
 East Ayrshire Council
 January 2006-December 2007 (with financial extension dates to 31 March 2008)
 Health (Care)Construction/ Hospitality /Manufacturing /Real Estate/Transport Waste Management / Other Service


 Girvan JobRotation (2003-04)
 South Ayrshire Council
 1 October 2003 – 31 December 2004
CareHospitalityAgricultural Sales & Services


 Girvan JobRotation (2005)
 South Ayrshire Council
 1 January 2005-31 December 2005
CareAgricultural/Land ServicesHospitalityManufacturing


 Girvan JobRotation (2006-07)
 South Ayrshire Council
 1 January 2006-31 December 2007 (with financial extension dates to 31 March 2008)
CareManufacturingConstructionHospitalityOther Services


 ANNA JobRotation (2003-04)
 North Ayrshire Council
 1 April 2003 – 30 June 2004
CareWholesale/distributionHospitalityHairdressing


 North Ayrshire JobRotation (2004-2005)
 North Ayrshire Council
 1 October 2004 – 31 December 2005
Health/CareWholesale/distributionHospitalityEngineering


 North Ayrshire JobRotation (2006-07)
 North Ayrshire Council
 1 January 2006-31 December 2007 (with financial extension dates to 31 March 2008)
Food, drink & tobaccoEngineeringOther ManufacturingConstructionHotels/DistributionOther servicesHealth/Care


 Prestwick Airport JobRotation
 Non ESF project. Managed by WEA. 
 26 January 2004 – 31 March 2006
Customer ServicesBaggage HandlingWarehouse


 WEA NHS JobRotation
 Non ESF project. Managed by WEA
 1 July 2006 – 31 March 2007
Nursing AuxiliaryDomestic AssistantsWaste ManagementClerical


 North Ayrshire Social Work JobRotation
 Non ESF project. Managed by WEA
 1 April 2007 – 31 March 2008
 Care At Home

Lifelong Learning

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to question S3W-9640 by Jim Mather on 28 February 2008, what targets it has set for participation in JobRotation in Ayrshire in each of the next three years.

Jim Mather: As the JobRotation programme is funded by the Ayrshire local authorities and with funding from the ESF programme, it is not for the Scottish Government to specify targets.

Local Government Finance

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what information on finance and resources will be published in relation to each single outcome agreement by (a) it and (b) each relevant local authority and when the information will be published.

John Swinney: Each council will be required to submit an annual report around the turn of the financial year. The report will set out the progress and achievements a council has made towards meeting the national outcomes and other commitments contained in its single outcome agreement.

  Under the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, councils currently have, and will continue to have, a duty to make arrangements for reporting to the public on the performance of their functions. Councils also remain under a duty to have regard to statutory guidance on Best Value, and should continue to be able to demonstrate good governance at a strategic, financial and operational level. The introduction of single outcome agreements does not affect these duties.

Local Government Finance

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreement from South Lanarkshire Council specifies how many P1 to P3 classes in Clydesdale will be reduced to 18 in each of the next three years and, if so, what the details are of the agreement.

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreement from South Lanarkshire Council specifies how many P1 to P3 classes in South Lanarkshire will be reduced to 18 in each of the next three years and, if so, what the details are of the agreement.

Adam Ingram: All 32 local authorities in Scotland have submitted draft single outcome agreements (SOAs) that set out how they will contribute to the agreed national outcomes in relation to education provision. Those drafts are currently the subject of discussion. We aim to complete the process of finalising all the Agreements for 2008-09 by 30 June. Subject to agreement with the authorities, all the finalised SOAs will be made publicly available shortly thereafter.

Local Income Tax

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish the likely cost to employers associated with the implementation of a local income tax, as set out in A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland , before the end of the consultation period.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the likely cost to employers associated with the implementation of the plans set out in A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland .

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish the likely cost to HM Revenue and Customs associated with collecting the local income tax, as set out in A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland , before the end of the consultation period.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the likely costs to HM Revenue and Customs associated with collecting the local income tax, as set out in A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland .

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish further details on its plans for a register of second homes in respect of its proposals for local income tax, as set out in A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland and, if so, when.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs associated with a register of second homes, in respect of its proposals for a local income tax, as set out in A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland , are likely to be.

John Swinney: We are currently inviting all individuals and organisations with an interest in the abolition of council tax and the introduction of a local income tax to comment on our proposals and to provide specific relevant evidence where possible.

  An analysis of the consultation responses will be published in the autumn and further announcements will follow in due course.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is shifting resources to community provision to support and treat people with depression as close to home as possible.

Shona Robison: Our aim is to match care to assessed needs and that assessment will inform whether the care should and could be provided at the patient’s own home, from a community facility, or in hospital.

  The record funding included within the Scottish budget to 2010-11 for health and social services will ensure continuity of approach and investment by NHS boards, local authorities and other partners on mental health services, including depression, no matter the care setting.

  As part of our attention to putting the individual at the centre of care we are providing £910,000 funding to 2009-10 on a pilot to provide free and accessible telephone based cognitive behaviour therapy and guided self help services supported through, and with, NHS 24. Discussions are also underway on training of NHS staff for the delivery of evidence based cognitive behaviour therapy self help programmes that address low mood and anxiety.

  Our continuing focus on social prescribing and our established breathing space telephone advice and signposting service also underline our ambition for care provided as close to the individual as possible.

Mental Health

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any decision has been taken on the future funding of joint local implementation plans under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, specifically whether such funding will continue to be allocated through local authorities and NHS boards, and whether it will be ring-fenced.

Shona Robison: Agencies were advised by letter last week of the allocations to be made, which have been maintained at previous values continuing our support for and our additional contribution to partnership spend on mental health in Scotland.

  The arrangements for allocation and spend are unaltered.

  The partners in Orkney will receive £130,000 toward local mental health services and support.

Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any decision has been taken on the funding, in the current financial year, of joint local implementation plans under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Shona Robison: Agencies were advised by letter last week of the allocations to be made, which have been maintained at previous values continuing our support for and our additional contribution to partnership spend on mental health in Scotland. The partners in Orkney will receive £130,000 toward local mental health services and support.

NHS 24

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to improve the quality of NHS 24 by delivering services through more local mini-centres co-located with out-of-hours services in each NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS 24 is committed to a local presence in each mainland NHS board area, as outlined at their annual review in August 2007, and this is in place, or planned for each. Discussions are progressing with NHS board partners about a number of initiatives on the further development of locally integrated services.

  The local centres aim to improve patients’ access to services by increasing the number of nurses available at peak times, by utilising local knowledge as these nurses are based in the local area, by increasing capacity within the existing three NHS 24 contact centres, and by increasing links with partners.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of health visitors.

Shona Robison: The review of nursing in the Community, Visible, Accessible and Integrated Care, made a number of recommendations about the delivery of healthcare to people in their homes and communities. Those recommendations, which included new community health nurse teams providing care that is currently delivered by health visitors and others, are currently being piloted in several health boards across Scotland. A more generic, team based approach will allow services to be more responsive to local needs and provide opportunities for other healthcare professionals and other agencies, such as local authorities, to participate in the delivery of care and services. The type and mix of healthcare staff needed to deliver those service will be a matter for NHS boards to determine.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many health visitors have been employed by the NHS in each of the last 10 years.

Shona Robison: As far as it is possible to do so, the information requested is given in the table below. It is important to note, however, that in the latter part of the 10 year period in question NHS boards were phasing in a new staff grading classification system as a result of the continuing implementation of Agenda for Change. It is therefore not possible to report fully on staff grades in 2006 and 2007 because there is no direct match between the old and new grades. In addition, the data for 2007 includes only those staff who have been assimilated to Agenda for Change. Over 5,000 (headcount) nursing and midwifery staff have yet to be assimilated. A proportion of those staff will be health visitors, so the apparent dip in numbers in 2007 does not equate to an actual reduction.

  Number of Health Visitors Employed by the NHS in Each of the Last 10 Years.

  

 
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002


 Head Count
 1,680
 1,698
 1,709
 1,756
 1,799


 WTE
 1,459.0
 1,464.4
 1,460.1
 1,487.7
 1,503.4



  

 
 2003
 2004
 2005
 20061
 20072


 Head Count
 1,789
 1,825
 1,826
 ..
 1368


 WTE
 1,473.2
 1,489.1
 1,479.5
 ..
 1,145.3



  Source: ISD Scotland.

  Notes:

  WTE = Whole-time equivalent.

  =Not available.

  1. During 2006 NHS boards were operating a phased approach to assimilation of staff to Agenda for Change and full assimilation had not yet been achieved. Therefore it was not possible to report fully on staff grades due to non-direct match between old grades and new Agenda for Change pay bands. Only high level summaries are available i.e. only down to registered/non-registered total level.

  2. Data for 1998-2005 is based on Whitley Council classification and 2007 data is based on Agenda for Change classification. Therefore the ability to compare trend is limited due to this change in data capture.

National Conversation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why the consultation on the National Conversation requires submissions to include only name and location, whereas those on other consultations, such as on local income tax require postal addresses and postcodes.

Nicola Sturgeon: The National Conversation website is a platform for debate about Scotland’s constitutional future. It is not a formal consultation along the lines of that on A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland.  The approach to requesting personal data from contributors to the National Conversation website is consistent with blogging convention.

National Conversation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why the moderator of the public submissions to the National Conversation website has not deleted comment numbers 360 and 451 in line with its statement that anything that is abusive will not be displayed.

Nicola Sturgeon: Comment 360 posted January 13, 2008, in the "Down to Detail – independent Scotland" has been removed, as has comment 451 posted August 15, 2007, in response to the First Minister’s blog. Neither comment is consistent with the moderation criteria and were posted in error.

Osteoporosis

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many osteoporosis scanners there have been in the NHS in each year since 1999, also broken down by NHS board, and what steps it is taking to increase the number of such scanners.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally in the form requested. At April 2008, there were 18 DEXA scanners in NHSScotland, and a further two will be commissioned by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in this financial year. Every NHS board has access to DEXA scanning.

  NHS boards are expected to provide services for people with osteoporosis based on their assessment of local needs. We have drawn to NHS boards’ attention the results of an NHS Quality Improvement Scotland audit, published at the end of 2005, on the effectiveness of strategies for the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fracture in Scotland. The audit concluded that a fracture liaison service and direct access to assessment by DEXA scanning would allow patients who have sustained a fracture to be offered and receive appropriate therapies to prevent osteoporotic fractures in future.

People with Disabilities

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much is spent on wages for carers of disabled people and whether it is aware that use of an assistance dog, such as provided by Canine Partners, can reduce this by more than a third.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally. In the following table, information is presented on the number of local authority social care workers who work directly with adults in each salary band. This information cannot be broken down to extract those who work specifically with disabled people. In June 2008, information on salary bands will be presented in the statistical publication Staff Of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services , available on the Scottish Government website.

  It is for employers to decide how to make the most efficient use of their resources in providing care for disabled people, including deciding whether to use assistance dogs.

  

 Main Job Function
 Salary (£)


<10,000
 10,000-13,125
>13,125-17,500
>17,500-21,875
>21,875-26,250
>26,250-35,000
 Not Known
 Total


 Routine Care/Support Work (Other than Home Care, Care Home and AHP assistance)
 96
 131
 193
 324
 46
 5
 363
 1,158


 Home Care
 525
 3,052
 597
 0
 0
 1
 1399
 5,574


 Routine Care/Support Work (Care Home)
 46
 74
 247
 108
 11
 0
 17
 503


 Other Class 2 Care Work
 7
 59
 115
 15
 0
 1
 17
 214


 Total
 674
 3,316
 1,152
 447
 57
 7
 1,796
 7,449



  Notes:

  1. The staff included within this table encompass those who work within all categories of "Adult" services, including those specialising in mental health, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, substance misuse and sensory impairment.

  2. Class 2 Care Work Staff are defined as "Staff who provide direct personal physical, emotional, social or health care and support to service users and are accountable for dealing with routine aspects of a care plan or service. These staff usually have no supervisory responsibility".

  3. Of the 53,776 staff reported in the 2006 Staff Of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services publication, 34% were reported with no main user group identified. Of the 66% with a user group 7,449 were identified as being Class 2 workers working with the user group "Adults".

  4. The salary information provided is the full-time equivalent. For example, a person earning £6,000 per annum for half a week’s work would be reported as being in the salary range £10,000 – £13,125 not <£10,000.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils are currently benefiting from two hours of PE per week, broken down by local authority area.

Fiona Hyslop: This information is not held centrally.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the numbers of additional PE teachers required to deliver two hours of PE per week to every pupil.

Maureen Watt: The response to the report of the physical education review group included a commitment to provide 400 additional PE teachers to support the growing emphasis on physical education by 2008. Intakes to the professional graduate diploma course in PE were increased. Since 2004, 247 students have entered the PGDE in PE. In addition, the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh were commissioned to develop a postgraduate certificate in education course in PE for existing primary teachers. To date almost 600 primary teachers have enrolled on the course.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the draft single outcome agreements it has received detail how two hours of PE per week will be delivered for every pupil in that local authority area.

Fiona Hyslop: All 32 local authorities in Scotland have submitted draft single outcome agreements (SOAs) that set out how they will contribute to the agreed national outcomes in relation to education provision. Those drafts are currently the subject of discussion. We aim to complete the process of finalising all the Agreements for 2008-09 by 30 June. Subject to agreement with the authorities, all the finalised SOAs will be made publicly available shortly thereafter.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which section of the concordat with local government refers specifically to the delivery of two hours of PE per week for every pupil.

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S3F-697 by the First Minister on 17 April 2008, what aspect of the concordat with local government will ensure the delivery of two hours of PE to every pupil ( Official Report c. 7694).

Fiona Hyslop: Local authorities have committed to developing and delivering Curriculum for Excellence as part of our historic concordat with local government.

  As part of Curriculum for Excellence, Health and Wellbeing: planning for experiences and outcomes and Building the Curriculum 3: A framework for learning and teaching will highlight the expectation that young people are entitled to two hours of quality physical education per week.

  The draft experiences and outcomes will be trialled in schools and will provide further opportunities for new approaches and best practice to be developed.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when every pupil will receive two hours of PE every week.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not set a timescale for the provision of two hours good quality PE for each child every week. As part of Curriculum for Excellence, we expect schools to continue to work towards the provision of two hours good quality PE for each child every week. This commitment will be reflected in Health and Wellbeing: planning for the experiences and outcomes and Building the Curriculum 3: A framework for learning and teaching .

  The concordat with local government means that local authorities and schools will decide the best way of achieving the experiences and outcomes in a way that meets local needs and circumstances.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many PE teachers were trained in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03, (c) 2003-04, (d) 2004-05, (e) 2005-06, (f) 2006-07 and (g) 2007-08.

Fiona Hyslop: The number of newly qualified PE teachers joining the teacher induction scheme each year is shown in the following table.

  Numbers of Newly Qualified PE Probationers Joining the Teacher Induction Scheme

  

 Year
 


 2002-03
 84


 2003-04
 82


 2004-05
 75


 2005-06
 110


 2006-07
 143


 2007-08
 154


 2008-09
 153*


 Total
 801



  Note: *Provisional - pass list not due till July 2008.

  The numbers in the table do not include either the probationers who are ineligible for the scheme or those who chose not to take up the places allocated to them, accurate counts of which are not held centrally).

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the intake for PE teaching will be at each higher education institution in 2008-09.

Maureen Watt: At present intakes to PE teacher training courses in 2008-09 are not known. The targets set by each university that runs such courses are as follows

  

 Institution
 PGDE


 University of Edinburgh
 21


 University of Strathclyde
 20


 University of the West of Scotland
 12


 Total
 53



  In addition, the University of Edinburgh has set an intake target of 100 for the BEd course.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what new funding it will make available to train additional PE teachers in 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Maureen Watt: Advice to the Scottish Funding Council on intakes to secondary initial teachers education courses in 2009-10 and 2010-11 and the funding associated with these intakes will only be finalised once the annual teacher workforce planning exercises for these years have been completed.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many PE teachers are currently employed in local authority schools.

Maureen Watt: The information requested is set out in the Statistical Bulletin Teachers in Scotland 2006-07 published on 19 March 2008 and can be accessed at:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/91982/0058105.pdf.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many PE teachers will require to be employed in local authority schools to deliver two hours of PE to every pupil.

Maureen Watt: The employment of teachers is a matter for local authorities as employers. It is a matter for local authorities to employ adequate numbers of teachers to meet their educational objectives.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the recruitment of PE teachers in each local authority area to support the delivery of two hours of PE per week for every pupil.

Maureen Watt: No targets have been set. The employment of teachers is a matter for local authorities as employers. It is a matter for local authorities to employ adequate numbers of teachers to meet their educational objectives.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that delivering two hours of PE per week for every pupil is sufficiently ambitious to tackle the problem of childhood obesity.

Fiona Hyslop: Physical education (PE) alone will not tackle the problem of childhood obesity.

  Over the next three years the Scottish Government will be investing £56 million (£40 million new money) in a range of initiatives to tackle obesity, healthy eating and physical activity. An obesity action plan will be published later this spring providing further details of these.

  Schools clearly have an important role to play and the health and wellbeing experiences and outcomes from three to 15 will provide opportunities for young people to participate in a wide range of physical activity, including regular high-quality PE programmes. In S4 and beyond, the emphasis will shift from a broad general education with elements of choice to depth of learning in selected subjects or experiences as young people begin to work towards qualifications. This will include opportunities to develop an active and healthy lifestyle.

  There is also now a legislative duty on Scottish ministers and local authorities under the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 to ensure schools are health promoting. A health promoting school will provide activities, environment and facilities which promote the mental, emotional, social and physical health and wellbeing of pupils.

  It is for local authorities and schools to consider the impact of decisions on all aspects of health and wellbeing on the whole school community.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact assessment it has made of every pupil having two hours of PE per week on pupils’ educational attainment.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not carried out an impact assessment. It is for local authorities and schools to consider the impact of decisions on all aspects of health and wellbeing on the whole school community.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be to each local authority of delivering two hours of PE per week to every pupil.

Fiona Hyslop: This is a matter for local authorities.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has allocated to each local authority to deliver two hours of PE per week to every pupil.

Fiona Hyslop: The intention of the new relationship with local government is to move away from ring fenced funding. The settlement for each local authority is intended as a single budget which provides authorities with the flexibility to reach decisions on where money should be spend to achieve agreed outcomes.

  Since local authorities have committed to developing and delivering Curriculum for Excellence we expect schools to continue to regard working towards the provision of two hours PE as a priority.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of every pupil having two hours of PE per week on pupils’ health.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not carried out an impact assessment on the effect of two hours PE has on pupils’ health. It is for local authorities and schools to consider the impact of decisions on all aspects of health and wellbeing on the whole school community.

Physical Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of every pupil having two hours of PE per week on pupils with asthma and other breathing problems.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not carried out an assessment on the impact of every pupil having two hours of PE per week on pupils with asthma and other breathing problems. It is for local authorities and schools to consider the impact of decisions on all aspects of health and wellbeing on the whole school community.

Physical Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still has a target of two hours of quality PE per week for every school pupil.

Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to column 7693 of the official report of 17 April 2008. Reports that we intended to scrap the target are completely unfounded.

Physical Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the health and wellbeing outcomes from Learning and Teaching Scotland will include a commitment to two hours of quality physical education per week by specialist PE teachers.

Fiona Hyslop: We expect schools to continue to work towards the provision of two hours of good quality PE for each child every week. This commitment will be reflected in Health and Wellbeing: planning for the experiences and outcomes and Building the Curriculum 3: A framework for learning and teaching.  The experiences and outcomes for health and wellbeing which we expect to be released before the end of the current school year, will provide opportunities for young people to participate in a wide range of physical activity including quality PE Programmes. Local authorities and schools will decide the best way of achieving the experiences and outcomes in a way that meets local needs and circumstances.

Physical Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4524 by Maureen Watt on 8 October 2007, when the target of two hours of good quality PE for each child every week by the end of the school year 2007-08 will be met and how progress towards this target is being monitored.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not set a timescale for the provision of two hours good quality PE for each child every week. As part of Curriculum for Excellence, we expect schools to continue to work towards the provision of two hours good quality PE for each child every week. This commitment will be reflected in Health and Wellbeing: planning for the experiences and outcomes and Building the Curriculum 3: A framework for learning and teaching .

  The historic concordat with local government means that local authorities and schools will decide the best way of achieving the experiences and outcomes in a way that meets local needs and circumstances.

  HM Inspectorate of Education will report on achievement of experiences and outcomes as part of the inspection process.

Prison Service

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what overseas visits the Scottish Prison Commission has undertaken and what, and to whom, it has reported on any such visits.

Kenny MacAskill: Details of the independent Scottish Prisons Commission’s overseas visits can be found on its website at www.scottishprisonscommission.info . The commission will report its findings and recommendations in the summer.

Procurement

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) percentage and (b) total value of public sector contracts awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises was in each financial year from 2003-04 to 2007-08.

John Swinney: Information is not available on the number of contracts by percentage awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises for the period given and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. We have only partial indications for financial year 2005-06 and information for other financial years is not currently available.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to develop the marine energy sector.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is taking action in a number of areas to develop Scotland’s marine renewables sector.

  Our £13 million Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme is helping a number of wave and tidal energy projects make the transition from research and development to commercialisation.

  Under the Renewables Obligation mechanism the Scottish Government provides higher levels of support for electricity output from marine energy in Scottish waters than elsewhere in the UK. We are currently consulting on proposals for banding the Obligation to maintain the right levels of support for marine energy.

  The unique testing facilities at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney have received public sector investment totalling £16 million, and provide a world class location for testing and proving these technologies.

  The Scottish Government has set out its plans to establish a Marine Energy Policy Group, which will lead on actions relating to further environmental research, monitoring and the production of locational guidance for the marine renewables sector.

  We are also lobbying hard on grid and regulatory matters, including pressing OFGEM and National Grid for a fundamental reform of the transmission charging regime.

Renewable Energy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought guidance from the European Commission on the Lewis wind power application and, if so, what guidance it has received.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not sought guidance from the European Commission on the Lewis wind power application, since the European Commission has published several guidance documents relating to the implementation of the EC Habitats Directive. These are available at the following web address:

  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/guidance_en.htm

Renewable Energy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has (a) sought and (b) received from the European Commission on the development of wind farms adjacent to Special Protection Areas.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not sought guidance from the European Commission on the Lewis wind power application, since the European Commission has published several guidance documents relating to the implementation of the EC Habitats Directive.

  These are available at the following web address:

  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/guidance_en.htm

Renewable Energy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the planning consents it has approved for wind farms adjacent to Special Protection Areas.

Jim Mather: The Gordonbush application is the first wind farm within 1km of a Special Protection Area consented by Scottish ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Renewable Energy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the advice it received from Scottish Natural Heritage on the Gordonbush wind farm application.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has published the advice received from Scottish Natural Heritage about the Gordonbush wind farm application on the Energy Consents website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Energy-Consents.

Renewable Energy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an appropriate assessment was carried out in respect of the Gordonbush wind farm application and, if so, whether it was qualitative.

Jim Mather: Under Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 Scottish ministers, as the competent authority, are required to carry out an appropriate assessment of any plan or project which they consider may have a likely significant effect on a European site. In carrying out the appropriate assessments for the Gordonbush wind farm application, Scottish ministers have had regard to information supplied by Scottish Natural Heritage, the developer and the views of the Chief Ecological Advisor for the Scottish Government. The information used in both assessments is qualitative and quantitative. The decision letter, consent and assessments are publicly available on the Energy Consents website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Energy-Consents.

Renewable Energy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the European Commission’s opinion was sought in respect of the Gordonbush wind farm application and, if so, what that opinion was.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not sought guidance from the European Commission on the Gordonbush wind farm application, since the European Commission has published several guidance documents relating to the implementation of the EC Habitats Directive.

  These are available at the following web address:

  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/guidance_en.htm.

Renewable Energy

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has provided to each local authority for administering wind farm applications made under the Electricity Act 1989.

Jim Mather: Since 1 July 2005 the Scottish Government has paid Planning Authorities two thirds of any new application fee received under the Electricity (Applications for Consent) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The intention of this payment is to ensure the planning authority is appropriately resourced when considering wind farm proposals under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 in their area.

  Details of payments made are detailed as follows:

  

 Wind Farm
 Planning Authority
 Payment Sum


 Blackcriag Hill
 Dumfries and Galloway
£10,000


 Shira
 Argyll and Bute
£10,000


 Glenkirk
 Highland
£10,000


 Lochluichart
 Highland
£13,000


 Limmer Hill
 South Lanarkshire
£10,000


 Mark Hill
 South Ayrshire
£10,000


 Arecleoch
 South Ayrshire
£13,000


 Mid Hill 
 Aberdeenshire
£10,000


 Strathy North
 Highland
£10,000


 Pairc
 Western Isles
£20,000


 Crystal Rig 2a
 East Lothian
£10,000


 Rothes Ext
 Moray
£10,000


 Strathy South
 Highland
£15,000


 *Black Law Ext
 North Lanarkshire
£5,000


 *Black Law Ext
 West Lothian
£5,000



  Note: *Shared fee for Black Law Extension which straddles the boundary of two councils.

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents have occurred on the A723 in each year since 1999, broken down by driver age group.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported accidents identified as occurring on the A723. An accident can involve one or more vehicles and the drivers in each individual accident may belong to different age groups. Therefore, the figures provided show the total number of injury accidents on the A723 together with a breakdown of the age groups of the drivers or riders who were involved.

  Injury Road Accidents on the A723 Between 1999 and 2006

  

 Year
 Total Injury Accidents
 Drivers or Riders of Vehicles Involved in Accidents


 Unknown/Under 17
 17-22
 23-29
 30-59
 60 and Over


 1999
 47
 1
 16
 16
 45
 6


 2000
 49
 5
 14
 15
 53
 7


 2001
 41
 1
 16
 14
 40
 7


 2002
 51
 2
 12
 16
 45
 9


 2003
 44
 2
 12
 14
 49
 6


 2004
 41
 2
 19
 9
 39
 5


 2005
 36
 0
 10
 14
 37
 7


 2006
 44
 0
 11
 12
 49
 5



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents have occurred on the A724 in each year since 1999, broken down by driver age group.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported accidents identified as occurring on the A724. An accident can involve one or more vehicles and the drivers in each individual accident may belong to different age groups. Therefore, the figures provided show the total number of injury accidents on the A724 together with a breakdown of the age groups of the drivers or riders who were involved.

  Injury Road Accidents on the A724 Between 1999 and 2006

  

 Year
 Total Injury Accidents
 Drivers or Riders of Vehicles Involved in Accidents


 Unknown/Under 17
 17-22
 23-29
 30-59
 60 and Over


 1999
 51
 4
 12
 15
 54
 3


 2000
 46
 6
 6
 14
 46
 9


 2001
 43
 4
 14
 6
 45
 3


 2002
 33
 5
 10
 7
 32
 0


 2003
 30
 3
 1
 10
 30
 1


 2004
 42
 0
 10
 10
 48
 8


 2005
 44
 3
 6
 11
 48
 9


 2006
 31
 0
 4
 5
 32
 6



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents have occurred on the A72 in each year since 1999, broken down by driver age group.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported accidents identified as occurring on the A72. An accident can involve one or more vehicles and the drivers in each individual accident may belong to different age groups. Therefore, the figures provided show the total number of injury accidents on the A72 together with a breakdown of the age groups of the drivers or riders who were involved.

  Injury Road Accidents on the A72 Between 1999 and 2006

  

 Year
 Total Injury Accidents
 Drivers or Riders of Vehicles Involved in Accidents


 Unknown/Under 17
 17-22
 23-29
 30-59
 60 and Over


 1999
 52
 2
 17
 10
 51
 12


 2000
 49
 2
 11
 9
 47
 10


 2001
 61
 3
 13
 12
 66
 11


 2002
 73
 4
 20
 17
 66
 13


 2003
 71
 2
 22
 12
 67
 14


 2004
 57
 1
 21
 16
 52
 4


 2005
 64
 2
 22
 14
 56
 13


 2006
 59
 1
 16
 15
 59
 12



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents have occurred on the B755 in each year since 1999, broken down by driver age group.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported accidents identified as occurring on the B755. An accident can involve one or more vehicles and the drivers in each individual accident may belong to different age groups. Therefore, the figures provided show the total number of injury accidents on the B755 together with a breakdown of the age groups of the drivers or riders who were involved.

  Injury Road Accidents on the B755 Between 1999 and 2006

  

 Year
 Total Injury Accidents
 Drivers or Riders of Vehicles Involved in Accidents


 Unknown/Under 17
 17-22
 23-29
 30-59
 60 and Over


 1999
 1
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0


 2000
 2
 0
 0
 1
 4
 0


 2001
 5
 1
 2
 0
 5
 1


 2002
 5
 0
 1
 1
 5
 2


 2003
 7
 0
 1
 1
 6
 2


 2004
 4
 0
 2
 0
 6
 0


 2005
 2
 0
 1
 1
 2
 0


 2006
 5
 0
 2
 2
 5
 1



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents have occurred on the B7071 in each year since 1999, broken down by driver age group.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported accidents identified as occurring on the B7071. An accident can involve one or more vehicles and the drivers in each individual accident may belong to different age groups. Therefore, the figures provided show the total number of injury accidents on the B7071 together with a breakdown of the age groups of the drivers or riders who were involved.

  Injury Road Accidents on the B7071 Between 1999 and 2006

  

 Year
 Total Injury Accidents
 Drivers or Riders of Vehicles Involved in Accidents


 Unknown/Under 17
 17-22
 23-29
 30-59
 60 and Over


 1999
 18
 1
 9
 5
 13
 4


 2000
 16
 0
 3
 5
 21
 0


 2001
 28
 3
 5
 9
 27
 9


 2002
 15
 0
 3
 2
 21
 2


 2003
 15
 2
 5
 4
 12
 2


 2004
 17
 0
 7
 5
 14
 1


 2005
 15
 0
 4
 3
 14
 6


 2006
 12
 0
 4
 4
 10
 2



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents have occurred on the B7012 in each year since 1999, broken down by driver age group.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported accidents identified as occurring on the B7012. An accident can involve one or more vehicles and the drivers in each individual accident may belong to different age groups. Therefore, the figures provided show the total number of injury accidents on the B7012 together with a breakdown of the age groups of the drivers or riders who were involved.

  Injury Road Accidents on the B7012 between 1999 and 2006

  

 Year
 Total Injury Accidents
 Drivers or Riders of Vehicles Involved in Accidents


 Unknown/Under 17
 17-22
 23-29
 30-59
 60 and Over


 1999
 5
 1
 0
 2
 6
 0


 2000
 9
 0
 3
 4
 8
 2


 2001
 5
 2
 1
 2
 3
 2


 2002
 7
 0
 1
 1
 9
 1


 2003
 8
 1
 3
 3
 9
 0


 2004
 4
 2
 1
 0
 5
 0


 2005
 5
 0
 1
 1
 5
 0


 2006
 10
 0
 4
 2
 7
 1



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents have occurred on the B758 in each year since 1999, broken down by driver age group.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported accidents identified as occurring on the B758. An accident can involve one or more vehicles and the drivers in each individual accident may belong to different age groups. Therefore, the figures provided show the total number of injury accidents on the B758 together with a breakdown of the age groups of the drivers or riders who were involved.

  Injury Road Accidents on the B758 between 1999 and 2006

  

 Year
 Total Injury Accidents
 Drivers or Riders of Vehicles Involved in Accidents


 Unknown/Under 17
 17-22
 23-29
 30-59
 60 and Over


 1999
 15
 0
 4
 7
 8
 4


 2000
 12
 2
 2
 2
 17
 1


 2001
 13
 0
 6
 2
 15
 1


 2002
 7
 1
 0
 3
 8
 1


 2003
 11
 0
 0
 3
 14
 0


 2004
 9
 0
 1
 2
 9
 2


 2005
 7
 0
 1
 3
 9
 0


 2006
 8
 0
 1
 2
 11
 1



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Road Accidents

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many casualties have resulted from road accidents on the A723 in each year since 1999, broken down by severity.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported casualties involved in accidents, identified as occurring on the A723.

  Road Accident Casualties on the A723 by Severity, 1999 to 2006

  

 Year
 Killed
 Serious
 Slight
 All Severities


 1999
 1
 6
 62
 69


 2000
 0
 14
 54
 68


 2001
 1
 11
 55
 67


 2002
 2
 5
 57
 64


 2003
 1
 9
 54
 64


 2004
 0
 10
 48
 58


 2005
 1
 2
 44
 47


 2006
 0
 7
 49
 56



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

Schools

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it encourages local authorities to make school buildings available for community use.

Maureen Watt: Local authorities’ and COSLA’s commitment to making school buildings available or better available for community use is already well documented. The recent Audit Scotland report Improving the school estate indicated that many schools are providing community access to facilities and new build schools are often designed with community use in mind. The report highlights good practice but also identifies areas for improvement and we will work with COSLA and the local authorities on how best to address this.

Schools

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many sites proposed for new schools have been (a) investigated and (b) rejected due to environmental concerns about the land in each of the last nine years.

Maureen Watt: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Scottish Government

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the dates and locations of all Cabinet Meetings that have taken place since January 2008, showing those present on each occasion, including observers.

Bruce Crawford: Information relating to the dates and location of Cabinet meetings is available on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/govtmay307/14944/thirdadmincabdates07.

  In order to uphold the principle of collective responsibility, the attendance details of specific Cabinet meetings are not publicly disclosed.

Scottish Ministerial Code

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-6782 and S3W-7754 by Bruce Crawford on 3 December 2007 and 15 January 2008, when it will publish the updated version of the Scottish Ministerial Code.

Bruce Crawford: A review of the Scottish Ministerial Code is currently in progress. An updated version of the code will be published once the review has been completed.

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers are currently in training across Scotland.

Maureen Watt: A total of 6,258 student teachers were enrolled on the four years BEd and one year PGDE courses at the start of academic session 2007-08.

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional funding has been made available in academic session 2007-08 to provide at least 250 more student places for the professional graduate diploma in primary education course.

Maureen Watt: An additional £1.095 million has been made available in academic session 2007-08 to fund additional places on the professional graduate diploma primary education course.

Teachers

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional PE teachers will be recruited in (a) South Ayrshire and (b) East Ayrshire to deliver two hours of PE per week to every pupil.

Fiona Hyslop: The employment of teachers is a matter for local authorities as employers. It is a matter for local authorities to employ adequate numbers of teachers to meet their educational objectives.

Transport

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what grant allocations will be made to Sustrans for the period 2008 to 2011.

Stewart Stevenson: Grant allocations for year one of the spending review have been agreed with stakeholder organisations and in 2008-09 Sustrans Scotland will receive £5,015,000. The further two years’ allocation will be based on the outcomes of this years projects.

Vaccines

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all MMR vaccines used by the NHS, showing the date of (a) their first use in vaccination programmes and (b) withdrawal from use of any vaccines, together with the reasons for such withdrawal.

Shona Robison: The Department of Health purchases stocks of the MMR vaccine under the national childhood vaccine contract to meet the needs of the entire UK vaccination programme.

  Combined MMR vaccines were first introduced into the routine childhood immunisation programme in 1988. At that time, the vaccines used were Pluserix and MMR II. Immravax was used from 1989. Pluserix and Immravax were withdrawn from use in September 1992 following confirmation that the rate of aseptic meningitis associated with these vaccines was higher than that of other available MMR vaccines. Priorix was used in the routine programme from 1997.

  Priorix and MMRII are currently used in the immunisation programme.